Camponotus irritabilis

The big-headed majors are the main draw: as the colony matures they give the nest real character and make the arena worth watching, set against quick, active foragers. It is a tropical ant from Sarawak, so it never hibernates and keeps developing through the winter. The colony does reach a substantial size in time, which is the appeal, but that means planning proper housing and steady feeding as it grows. For a keeper who wants a big, characterful Southeast Asian carpenter ant with strong size contrast between castes, this is a satisfying intermediate choice.

An omnivorous carpenter ant that relies on sugars and honeydew for energy and on insect prey for brood growth. Keep a carbohydrate feeder available and offer protein regularly, increasing it as the colony and its big-headed majors develop.

★★★ readily · ★★ moderately · ★ occasionally · ✗ not eaten

Begin the founding queen in a test tube, then upgrade to a spacious Ytong or acrylic formicarium, since this species can climb past several thousand workers and wants room. Keep the nest near 55-70% with a hydrated chamber while the arena dries to 40-60%, expanding step by step so the colony is never lost in too large a nest. Carpenter ants climb well, so protect the arena with fluon (PTFE) or talc and water. An ANTonTOP formicarium and starter kit let you start small and grow.

A tropical ant with no hibernation, so warmth and feeding continue through winter. Keep the nest at 20-26 °C and the arena at 22-32 °C, with nest humidity at 55-70% and the arena drier at 40-60%. Heat one end only to form a gradient, letting the colony settle its brood in the warm zone and forage into the cooler air.

Founding is slow, then growth accelerates toward a large colony of 2,000-10,000 workers, with the big majors arriving as it matures. Plan for a long build rather than a quick one. You receive a laying queen with workers and brood, ready to expand in a spacious nest.

• The name irritabilis hints at a quick defensive response, typical of forest Camponotus disturbed at the nest.
• It belongs to the carpenter ants, named for the way many species carve nest galleries into wood.
• Like its relatives it sprays formic acid in defence instead of stinging.
• Bornean rainforest is one of the most ant-diverse environments on the planet, and Camponotus is among its dominant genera.

Is Camponotus irritabilis good for beginners?

It is Intermediate, easy to found, but the large tropical colony needs roomy housing and steady feeding.

Does this Bornean carpenter ant need a winter rest?

No. It is tropical and active year-round.

Does Camponotus irritabilis sting or bite?

No sting; only a mild bite.

How big does a mature irritabilis colony get?

Large, 2000-10000 workers.

How large is the queen?

The queen is 14-18 mm, with workers 5-10 mm and majors up to 14-17 mm.

How fast does it grow?

Slow at first, then faster, with big majors appearing as it matures.

What does it eat?

Sugar water or nectar plus insects such as crickets and flies.

Will the ants arrive alive?

Yes. Queen, workers and brood ship with a heat or cool pack, sent within 24 h with tracking.

Escape prevention. Coat the inner rim of every open arena with fluon (PTFE), or use talc-and-water or an oil barrier as a backup, and keep a tight, fine-mesh lid on top. Check the barrier regularly, since dust, condensation and feeding debris break a fluon line over time. Keep tubing connectors tight and seal any gaps in the nest.

Keeping reminders. Always offer fresh water and never let the nest dry out completely. Give carbohydrates continuously and protein a few times a week, and remove uneaten insect prey within 24 hours before it moulds. Keep the formicarium out of direct sunlight and away from constant vibration, which stresses a young colony. A water-filled test tube plugged with cotton makes an ideal spare incubator whenever you need one.

Before you buy – do not rehouse too early. Have a test-tube setup or a small formicarium with an outworld and a working barrier ready before your colony arrives. A founding colony grows slowly at first, which is normal. Moving a small colony into a large nest too soon invites mould, mites and stress, and the workers die off one by one. Keep the colony in its open test tube on the arena, plug the nest entrance with cotton, and open up the next chambers only once the colony fills roughly 10-15% of the space.

What we ship. Every colony ships with a live-arrival guarantee, backed by our 24h unboxing-video guarantee: if the queen does not arrive alive, we reship free. Parcels travel with DHL, InPost (PL) or EMS, with a heat or cold pack to suit the season, packed discreetly and securely. We ship across the EU and worldwide, with free shipping over the Europe threshold.